Swedish man pleads guilty in Internet sex sting

FARMINGTON -- A Swedish man accused of trying to arrange a sexualrendezvous with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl whileon a trip to the United States has struck a plea deal withprosecutors.

Bjorn Larsson, 47, pleaded guilty in 2nd District Court onThursday to a single charge of enticing a minor over the Internet, asecond-degree felony. In exchange, Davis County prosecutorsdismissed the remaining counts of third-degree felony dealing inharmful materials to a minor.

Wearing a blue and white jail jumpsuit and speaking through aninterpreter, Larsson said little during the hearing. Prosecutorsagreed to an unusual sentence that lets him serve an additional 60days in the Davis County Jail before he is deported to his nativeSweden.

"It is not Utah's intent to destroy his life in prosecuting thismatter," said deputy Davis County attorney Richard Larsen. "Ourintent is to impress upon him the seriousness of the acts."

Larsson's defense attorney, Mark Arrington, said his client facesmore troubles once he returns home, blaming the Swedish media thathave taken an unusual interest in the story of his arrest.

"His life has been ruined by this," Arrington said of the newscoverage.

Larsson was arrested earlier this month by a Layton policedetective posing as a 13-year-old girl online. Prosecutors accusedLarsson of trying to arrange a sexual encounter while planning atrip to Utah to visit relatives. A meeting was being set up, butLayton police recognized and arrested Larsson while at thecommunity's annual Night Out Against Crime festivities.

"This incident was not his first," said Larsen. "He was chattingin November with an agent in Salt Lake regarding his visit."

Judge John Morris sentenced Larsson to serve up to 15 years inprison but suspended the sentence in lieu of 60 days in jail. Atthat time, he will be deported and not allowed to return since he isa convicted felon. He was also ordered to pay a $500 fine.

The Swedish Consulate in Utah was involved in Larsson's defenseand noted that in his native country, police cannot conductoperations such as the undercover sting that resulted in the arrestbecause it is considered entrapment. However, Larsson is subject toU.S. laws while here.

"What people need to know is you need to follow the law of thecountry you visit," said Swedish Consul Bjorn Ablad.

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com